13 Effective Ways To Keep Mosquitoes Out Of Your Home For Good

The sound of a mosquito buzzing near your ear is the last thing you want to hear before you fall asleep. This is because when you have mosquitoes in the home, you can wake up covered in bites. The itching alone is enough to drive a level-headed person crazy. If you struggle with these blood sucking insects where you live, you’ll want to do all you can to keep them out of your home.

To prevent mosquitoes from entering your home, it is essential to maintain your window screens and patch any holes as soon as you notice them. Seal gaps and cracks in your home, and keep doors closed, especially at dusk. Add door sweeps, and keep outdoor lights off whenever possible. Install mosquito traps or bug zappers, remove stagnant water, and clean your fountains and bird baths regularly to prevent mosquito from breeding.

Mosquitoes are tiny, but these small biting insects can suck out all the tranquility from your home. If you’ve noticed some of these bugs inside your house, the time to act is now. Below is a list of easy and highly effective ways to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home, and ways to keep them outside for good where they belong.

13 Ways To Help Keep Mosquitoes Out Of Your Home Permanently 

1. Maintain Your Window Screens

One of the most common ways mosquitoes find their way into your home is through a window. If you don’t have window screens, then you should install some to ensure all insects stay outdoors. Even if you have window screens, mosquitoes can still make it inside if there are holes and other vulnerabilities. 

Inspect your window screens regularly, and patch up any small holes or rips immediately. When you properly maintain your window screens, you can enjoy fresh air without having to worry about inviting in these pests.

2. Turn Off Unnecessary Outdoor Lights

Mosquitoes and many other insects are attracted to light. Therefore, when you have outdoor lights on, you are going to lure these bugs closer to your home. To prevent this from happening, make it a habit to keep outside lights off when your windows are open, unless you need them on.

Alternatively, ensure your windows and doors are shut before turning on your outside lights. 

3. Get Rid Of Stagnant Water

Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. Their larvae mature very quickly, and they can hatch in just a few days. Therefore, it’s smart to remove any stagnant water inside your home. This includes water in vases. 

Alternatively, you can add a few drops of dish soap to help kill the larvae while keeping flowers alive. Stagnant water near your home is also a bad idea, as this can create a breeding ground for these insects right near your doorstep. 

4. Add Door Sweeps

If your entry doors have gaps, then mosquitoes can sneak into your home. The best way to close these gaps without spending a lot of money is to install door sweeps. 

Door sweeps will seal small gaps near the ground and create a barrier between your home and the outside where mosquitoes are lurking. Door sweeps are also effective at keeping your home climate-controlled. This can help control humidity and even lower your electric bill.

5. Trim Back Vegetation

If you have shrubs and hedges near your home, you must keep them trimmed and tidy. For one thing, well-manicured shrubs add curb appeal to your house and prevent damage to your home’s façade. 

Furthermore, unkempt shrubs create an ideal living situation for mosquitoes. These bugs like to live in moist, shady areas. Maintain your landscaping, and you’ll also keep some bugs away.

6. Change Fountain And Bird Bath Water Regularly

Fountains and bird baths are great additions to any yard. They attract pollinators, and fountains have the added benefit of blocking street noise. Unfortunately, both of these water features can help breed thousands of mosquitoes.

To prevent these water features from hatching new generations of mosquitoes, you must clean your bird bath and fountains regularly. In addition to cleaning them, you can add larvicides to help kill mosquito larvae before they hatch.

7. Keep Doors Closed, Especially Around Dusk

Unless they have screens, you should always keep your entry doors closed during mosquito season. Doors are large, which makes it easy for bugs like mosquitoes to sneak in undetected.

While you must occasionally go through doors, do your best to open and close them quickly. Mosquitoes are particularly active around sunset and dusk. Therefore, you must be extra diligent in keeping doors closed at this time in order to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.

8. Seal Gaps And Cracks

Another way mosquitoes find their way into homes is through small gaps and cracks. Small gaps form over time, especially when you neglect to recaulk certain areas. Areas around window treatments and door frames are particularly vulnerable to small cracks.

If you notice insects in your home, take the time to look for gaps, cracks, and small holes in your home. Seal them immediately, and ensure you recaulk areas that need it. This will eliminate another entry point for mosquitoes. 

9. Use Sprays To Deter Mosquitoes 

There are several sprays you can administer that can repel and kill mosquitoes and other pests. Sprays that contain Picaridin or DEET are both great at repelling mosquitoes. Some of these sprays can be applied directly to your skin.

Others are designed to be sprayed in rooms and even outside to help keep bugs away for prolonged periods of time. This is a great method for those with mosquitoes in the home who can’t seem to get rid of them, no matter how many you swat and kill.

10. Use Certain Essential Oils In Your Diffuser

If you prefer to take a more organic approach to repelling mosquitoes, consider choosing specific essential oils to add to a diffuser. While not all fragrances keep these bugs at bay, some oils can help repel mosquitoes. 

Citronella is one of the best oils for repelling mosquitoes. You can also use lavender, clove, lemongrass, peppermint, or a combination of these oils. While not as effective as DEET, these scents confuse mosquitoes and may encourage them to fly elsewhere.

11. Utilize Your Fans

Mosquitoes are very light and not the best flyers. Fans are effective at blowing these insects away, and can encourage them to seek calmer air. If you have ceiling fans and oscillating fans in your home, then use them.

Using your room’s ceiling fan or angling a ceiling fan towards you when you sleep can also help prevent these bugs from biting you. While fans don’t get mosquitoes out of your home entirely, they can help diminish their ability to bite you.

12. Incorporate Mosquito-Deterrent Plants

There are several plants that can deter and confuse mosquitoes. These plants include herbs like lemongrass, citronella, lavender, basil, and lemon balm. If you add these plants near your entryways, you can help prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.

Some of these plants, including basil, lavender, and citronella, can grow in the home. Place them near windowsills to help keep these bugs away, and enjoy the lovely fragrances these plants bring into the home. 

13. Install Mosquito Traps And Bug Zappers

If you have mosquitoes in your home and can’t seem to kill them fast enough, then it might be time to add some mosquito traps. There are many types of mosquito traps, with CO2 and UV light traps being the most popular. You can also use sticky traps, especially if you struggle with other insects in the home.

If you have a mosquito issue in your outside porch or other exterior living space, you can use a bug zapper. Ensure that whichever trap you use is installed safely and is suitable for the space it occupies.

Summing Up Ways To Keep Mosquitoes Out Of Your Home For Good

Mosquitoes can be extremely irritating. They suck your blood, can spread disease, and leave bites that keep you itchy and scratching for days. Getting bitten by these bugs outside is annoying enough, but having mosquitoes in your home can become a nightmare. 

To keep mosquitoes out of your home, you must ensure your window screens are well-maintained and keep your doors shut. Seal any holes and cracks in your home, and add a door sweep if your exterior doors have a gap. Use fans and deterrent sprays to keep these bugs away, and get rid of any stagnant water inside and near your home.

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